Math Standards and Competencies: Converting the TEKS into Plain English

Many states and countries have standards or competencies that outline what children at various ages should have. Classroom schoolers and homeschoolers alike can use these (and sometimes must use them).

2 Responses to Math Standards and Competencies: Converting the TEKS into Plain English

It’s been good getting to know you on Twitter. Here’s how I would re-write 1A and 1B for 6th graders.

I know that a number that can be written as a fraction of whole numbers (like 7/3 or 2/11) is a rational number. I can write one fraction in many ways, such as 2/3 = 6/9 = 200/300. I know that rational numbers can be written as decimals, percentages, mixed numbers, and integers, and I can convert among these forms. I can also compare and order rational numbers in all forms.

Here’s my attempt at 1C.

I know that positive numbers are greater than zero and negative numbers are less than zero. Some examples of negative numbers are debts, temperatures below zero, and elevations below sea level. I can give you several more real-world examples of when negative numbers make sense.

Finally, 1D:

I know that sometimes one whole number divides into another with no remainder, and I know that the first is called a divisor or factor of the second. I know that a number with exactly two divisors (1 and itself) is called a prime number, and a number with more than two divisors is called a composite number because it is “composed” by multiplying prime numbers. If you give me a number, I can tell you whether it is prime, and if it is not, I can write the number as a multiplication problem listing just its prime factors. Instead of listing the prime factors the long way, such as 12,000 = 2x2x2x2x2x3x5x5x5, I can use exponents to shorten the list: 2400 = 2^5 x 3 x 5^3.

I hope this helps; sorry that I was so cranky about the details that I overlooked the essentially great idea!

Brad! You rock! Thanks so much for giving your input. And your reaction via twitter was spot on. Often the things I write here are good starting points for conversations. I have tons of experience, but that doesn’t mean that I’m always right. Or even almost always right.